Ron Yengich: Making a difference for 37 years.

• Author: McFadden, Josh

In a career that has spanned nearly four decades, few Utah attorneys have impacted as many lives and been involved in such high-profile cases as defense lawyer Ron Yengich, partner at Yengich, Rich & Xaiz in Salt Lake City.

For 37 years, Yengich has defended those accused of various crimes, including individuals who stood trial for capital murder and other serious offenses, such as the infamous forger Mark Hoffman. For Yengich, representing people in such highly publicized circumstances offers the opportunity to be an advocate for someone in dire need when society has cast them aside.

Yengich has always eschewed attaching labels to people, even those involved in heinous accusations. He insists on looking at the individual as someone who has committed an error rather than someone who is an error.

"As a defense attorney, you get to help people," he says. "It's satisfying that you can help people who need help, and that you can present their story that they are not the crime but that they may have done something wrong."

In settings where it might be easy, convenient or socially acceptable to be judgmental, harsh or even demeaning, Yengich believes it's critical to truly see the good in others. In his work, he has seen enough and has represented enough people of various backgrounds to conclude that the majority of people are intrinsically good. Some people, unfortunately, make poor choices.

"Most people are common, decent folks who have made mistakes," he says.

Ultimately, Yengich's hope is to assist individuals in overcoming their challenges and in becoming industrious, respectable citizens.

"I want them to become more productive members of society and do it in a way that is honorable he says.

Reflecting back on his long, successful, distinguished career, Yengich says some of his most memorable, satisfying cases are those that nobody in the public ever heard about or those that didn't garner media attention. He is pleased with having successfully represented everyday...